Andre Rieu Concert Rod Laver Arena 10-2009 A Photo Review
| ||
Tess is sharing her photos from the Andre Rieu concert at the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne for those of us Fans who were not able to attend. | ||
| ||
 | ||
 | ||
To see more of Tess' photographs |
Posted by WebMaster Sally at October 30, 2009 
Categories: Australia, ANDRE RIEU, Featured Fans, 1 CONCERTS
Categories: Australia, ANDRE RIEU, Featured Fans, 1 CONCERTS
Wow Tess, really great shots. A picture is worth a thousand words. Thank you
Reply to this
And a Thousand Smiles
Reply to this
Shirley, i thank you for you warming comments. I attened the Thursday night and also the friday night show, the show was spectualar, this year no guest artists which is far better in my opinion and others sitting around me have made the same comment, My only cristism off the show is why doesn't he include the second waltz, and the dark rose cafe, as they are everyone's favorite, and never heard played here in Australia. He could leave out the theme from neighbours, and give me a home among the gum trees, as that was featured last year. Going again on Sunday, so until then enjoy my photos and wish you were all here to enjoy Andre's show as its a night to remember. Oh well i have to go and get ready from days show starting at 3pm
Tess from Melbourne Australian
Reply to this
I went to Andre's concert on Saturday October 31st,2009. It was mindblowing, i have only just discovered the talent of Andre, his orchestra and the brilliant sopranos and Platin Tenors. Nothing could have prepared me for the most amazing night of my life, one I will never forget EVER!!! I took my 16 yo daughter who was mildly excited by the prospect, unlike me who could barely contain myself as the big night approached. We were so lucky to have seats dead center on the floor, 12 rows from the front and aisle seats no less. I couldn't believe our luck! The entrance of Andre and his orchestra was just as we had seen on some of his television shows. Andre and his orchestra divided into two and walked up the aisles I was actually able to reach out and touch them and yell out welcome. I don't know how appropriate that was but i couldn't help myself. Andre was in his usual brilliant form (as was his orchestra). I thoroughly enjoyed his anecdotes especially the one regarding his health where he told us that he had recently attended his doctor for a check up. He said that his doctor told him Mr Rieu you are in perfect health, even your heart beats in 3/4 time. He then told us that his orchestra also had perfect health. With that some of his orchestra members started to sneeze and pinch the hankerchieves out of the top pockets of the men next to them. It was hysterical and bought a raised eyebrow from Andre and a wry smile to see what we were laughing at. Now moving along it was beyond words to describe the thunderous applause and yelling when Andre introduced our very own Gary Bennet. He appeared to be humbled and pleased with his welcome by his fellow Australians. But then my mind began to wander for jusr a second where's Mirusia, I adore her voice. But Andre was not about to disappoint us, I should have known better!!(please take pity on me I have only just discoved Andre).When Mirusia came out on stage everybody applauded and screamed out madly. She sang her first song for which she received a suitably long standing ovation with whistling and screaming. She too seemed somewhat surprised and taken aback with her welcome and appreciation of her wonderful voice. Next she said Andre could I sing just one more song he replied ah of course I think I know the one you mean and with that the orchestra struck up and the audience gasped as she began to sing I Still Call Australia Home. Everybody joined in the mood in the arena was electric. She received the longest standing ovation I thought was ever possible, but it was so richly deserved. The woman behind me told me that toward the end of the song Mirusia had tears gently rolling down her face(she was obviously genuinely touched by the moment as we all were).But she was not the only one apparently Andre the man himself shed a tear or two. Sorry I have to leave it at this for now but I will fill you in on some funny moments that a forty something woman had with Andre and two of his orchestra members soon. BYE!
Reply to this
Hi everybody just checking to see if i have mastered gaining access to your feedback site. I am new to this and wish to tell all who are interested of my fantastic evening at the concert on Saturday October 31st 2009. Hope this works oh and also a big hi to Shirley and Tess wish me luck!!!
Reply to this
That's a Wonderful Story Jill and it works perfectly with Tess' great photographs
I think I'll make another page that will remain on ARFS so everyone even in the future can see it.
Reply to this
HI JILL!I'm so happy the concert went so well. I can't wait to hear more. I knew you would not be disappointed. It really must be exciting to see Gary & Mirusia, two of your own,singing with Andre. Do you remember how many encores they did? You've really had a good year concert wise haven't you? Seen all your faves. Hey, got next years tickets yet?
Reply to this
Hi Sally, Shirley and everyone.Now for my second installment.Intermission had arrived I was chatting with a couple behind us they said when the baloons were released we could go up to the front of the stage. I thought could I or couldn't I. I am usually quite a reserved person but this was a unique opportunity to get up close to Andre and JSO. Meanwhile my daughter positioned herself at the front of the aisle to get some photos. She raced back to me MUM I waved to the dark haired celloist and he waved back at me. With that the baloons were released and we bolted. Before I knew it we were standing at the front of the stage straight infront of Andre.Just centimetres from the man himself. In a state of shock I couldn't move I just stared at him. Andre momentariy caught sight of me and smiled and winked.Then he started to tease us about the concert coming to an end. But we were not about to let him get away with that screaming out MORE MORE MORE. He gestered to us rubbing his stomach and pretending to have a drink. The crowd screamed out again MORE MORE MORE!! whilst me at his feet screamed five more he looked at me and others doing the same and raised his eyebrows, shook his head and said FIVE MORE! with a smile. With that he turned to JSO and they struck up once more. So many times the same thing happened Melbournians weren't about to let him get away that easily. Then I noticed the celloist my daughter had told me about earlier. By this time I had totally abandoned any inhibitions I had left I waved at him he smiled and waved back. Could it get any better YES! I then gestered for him to come down I don't know what I was thinking he smiled at me shook his head but blew me two kisses This encounter was repeated at least two more times which seemed to amuse him. Finally it was time for all the soprano's and tenor's to come out on stage we all knew it truly was almost all over. I was now at the feet of Thomas, Bella and Gary. I couldn't control myself the whole thing was like an out of body experience. I reached out over the front of the stage screaming out PLATIN TENORS ROCK. Gary smirked and looked shocked, Bella however seemed to be quite amused by this and smiled, Thomas just seemed to be shocked. My daughter tried to pull back my arm but she didn't stand a chance. Whilst she was doing this she noticed the drummer on the side staring at us with one hand partially over his face and shaking his head.We were all still yelling MORE MORE but we knew it was sadly the last song and we all swayed to the music and sang and then it was truly all over OH NO! they all left the stage to a standing ovation however the celloist and drummer remained tending to their instruments I again gestered at the celloist to come down he laughed and blew me two more kisses. As we filed out close to the drummer my daughter yelled out the Italian word for great I tried to do the same thing but ended up saying something totally different, he laughed then it was time to go home
Reply to this
Jill, this is just hilarious! I actually felt like I was there too. This one bought many smiles to me, especially you motioning to the celloist to come down & your using the wrong Italian phrase. You must have bought many smiles to the orchestra too as they probably thought "who is this crazy lady". But it sounds like you weren't the only one either. I'm glad you had such a great time.
Reply to this
Jill I have been reading your reports and I am sitting here laughing and can just picture all this in my mind. You really got into it for being "reserved". But I know what you mean. I am very shy but somehow I lose it when I see Andre on stage. Every concert I run up after the balloons are dropped. I think the JSO and Andre get a kick out of this. When I went to Wilkes-Barre in Pennsylvania it was Andre's first time there and the people didn't know we could go up. So I run up with my camera and I am there with my arms in the air and waving and taking photos and after a while I look around and I am absolutely alone. I don't know what the people thought but Andre was smiling and I kept clicking away with my camera.
I am just so glad you had a wonderful time Jill, this is what it is all about - having fun with Andre's music. You go to a concert and you feel you are away from all the hum-drum of life and you lose your normal inhibitions. You can laugh and cry, you can stand and stare at him or smile, blow him a kiss. I have done all this and yet when I met him I was scared skinny and nothing would come out of my mouth except "hello Andre". I had rehearsed all these things I wanted to say and yet "hello" is all I could say? Luckily I have a very talkative husband and that broke the ice or maybe the spell. Then I could talk to him.
Thank you Jill again for your wonderful experience and for sharing it with us. Hugs
Reply to this
I went to the Thursday show and it certainly was a great experience> Unfortunately our view of the stage was blocked by one of the video screens so that only the front half of the stage was visible. I also lost my program and I was wondering if anyone can supply me with more information on a composition by Franz Lehar that Andre played. I have never heard this before and Andre introduced it by saying that it was music that "touched the soul" it touched mine but I cannot find it on any of the DVD's or Cd's. If anyone can give me the name and any more details of this piece it would be appreciated
Reply to this
Hi John,
I think you are probably speaking about the "Song Of The Volga" by Franz Lehar. It is a beautiful song and I love it and Andre plays it beautifully. Hope this helps. Hugs
Reply to this
That is one of my very favorites that Andre plays.If this is the song that John refers to it is also known as "wolgalied" & I have it on my Live In Vienna dvd. I'm sure it's on others also but I can't remember exactly which ones now.
Reply to this
Thank you Jeanine Ann and Shirley for giving me the information about "Song Of The Volga" Very much appreciated John
Reply to this
Hi Shirley,Jeanine Anne thanks so much for your positive replies. I'm so glad you found it amusing and felt like you could have been there. As I have said before I had the time of my life. Shirley in answer to your question about the number of encores I don't know the exact number but I can tell you that apparently the concert was officially supposed to end at ten however it ended up finishing somewhere around a quarter to eleven. He was extremely generous with his time, hope that helps. Now As Tess wrote we could have also done without the Neighbors theme and Give Me A Home Among The Gum Trees. We were also disappointed and puzzled as to why he didn't play the Second Waltz maybe next year! However it was still a brilliant magical and unforgettable concert for us. I now have some questions for anybody that can help me. At the end of the concert there was a message on the large screens saying see you next year and I think it mentioned Melbourne. However, I have only seen tickets on sale for Newcastle, Sydney and Brisbane. What about us in Melbourne, Victoria? Also I know that you can pay extra to meet him after the show but I have heard conflicting prices especially if you had purchased platinum seats like we had? Finally I have heard that Andre and JSO tend to stay in the same hotel as they have previously stayed in but my source could be wrong. Its just that I have heard him say on a few occasions that after the concert they often go to the bar at the hotel and have a few drinks and play and sing. He also said that they tend to be so loud that some of the other hotel guests come down and join in. Imagine that, sitting in on a jam session with them all could you think of anything more awesome!!! Does anyone know where he stayed in Melbourne this time I was told by a woman at the concert that last year he stayed at the Eureka Towers? I know I must sound desperate to meet them all and theres a good reason for this I AM!!! If somebody can help me with these questions I would be so grateful. I would also love to here more of anyone else's experiences at these concerts. I'm sure we would all have some different stories to share.
SALLY I ALSO HAVE SOME PHOTOS OF ANDRE, MIRUSIA, CARMEN AND THE PLATIN TENORS. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED JUST LET ME KNOW.
HUGS AND BEST WISHES TO EVERYONE.
JILL FROM GEELONG VICTORIA (AUSTRALIA)
Reply to this
Jill from Geelong, that has a nice ring to it.
Reply to this
Hi Shirley, I thought I would drop you a line while I am watching Andre "Live in Maastricht" . The Platin Tenors are on at the moment (its on Ovation on Foxtel). They always play one of his concerts 7 days a week between 12am and 1am. Anyway thats not why I'm dropping you a line. I thought I would just let you know that my daughter will post the photos for you probably tomorrow night. Hope you like then I'll send you the ones of Andre, Mirusia, Carmen and The Platin Tenors.
SEE YA HUGS JILL (GEELONG)
Reply to this